Precision winder



Aug. 3, 1965 A. J. HAMBACH PRECISION WINDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed Sept. 14. 1961 INVENTOR.

Aueus'r J- HAMBACH ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1965 A. J. HAMBACH PRECISION WINDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Sept. 14, 1961 Nmm INVENTOR.

AUGUST J- HAMBACH ATTORNEYS Nmm Aug. 3, 1965 A. J. HAMBACH mmczsxou wmnmn 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Sept. 14 1961 INVENTOR.

AUGUST J- HAMBACH ATTORNEYS Aug. 3, 1965 Original Filed Sept A. J. HAMBACH PRECISION WINDER 4 SheetsSheet 4 INVENTOR.

AUG UST J- HAMBACH BY JM; 710% 9 M ATTORNEY-.5

United States Patent 3,198,447 PRECISIDN WINDER August I. Hambach, Richmond, Va., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Maremont Corporation, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Original application Sept. 14,1961, Ser. No. 138,166. Divided and this appiication Oct. 26, 1962, Ser. No. 237,785

. 6 Claims. (Cl. 242-43) This application is a division of copending application Serial No. 138,166 filed September 14, 1961, for Percision Winder.

This invention relates to winding machines of the type used in the textile industry for winding thread, yarn, wire, and other strand material onto cops, cones, spools, and other similar packages. More specifically, this invention relates to winding machines of the type described above having a winding spindle supporting a rotatable package on Which a thread is wound and a reciprocable guide for guiding a thread onto the package.

Winding machines of this type are well known. Typically, such a machine has a rotating winding spindle which mounts a rotatable package such as a tube or spool upon which the thread is wound. Either an electric motor or a belt drive is employed to rotate a shaft connected to the winding spindle. Generally, the Winding spindle shaft is also connected through a gainer mechanism to a cylindrical cam which reciprocates a cam follower connected to the thread guide.

This type of winding machine is often employed to wind headless packages on cylindrical paper tubes and also to wind on spools. In order that such a machine may be employed with spools of different sizes, it is necessary to control the build-up between the flanges of the spools. To do this, a mechanism must be provided for contracting or expanding the traverse of the thread guide and for shifting it to one side or the other. The primary object of the present invention therefore resides in the provision of a novel traverse adjusting mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing purposes.

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a precision winder which is a combination unit adapted for use either in winding a headless package on parallel paper tubes or in winding onto spools directly from an extruder and is provided with traverse mechanism constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational View of the Winder of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary view taken substantially along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing the traverse width adjusting and travese limit shifting mechanism and;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 3.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURES 14 illustrate a combination winder constructed in accord with the principles of the present invention and adapted, for example, to winding filaments or threads directly from an extruder onto flanged spools or onto parallel-walled paper tubes. This embodiment features a novel thread guide adjusting mechanism for expanding and contracting the traverse of the thread guide and for shifting the traverse to one side or the other. This embodiment is mounted on a base plate 320 having unstanding, parallel, bearing support side plates 322 and 324 fixed thereto by machine screws 326 and 328 and an upstanding rear motor support plate 330 fixed thereto by machine screws 332.

An electric torque motor 334 the structure, control, and operation. of which are explained in detail in parent application No. 138,166, is vertically, adjustably mounted upon rear support plate 330 by bolt assemblies- (not shown) which are substantially the same asthose described in parent application No. 138,166. The rotor (not shown) of motor 334 has an elongated shaft 338,

the opposite ends of which project coaxially from the end bells 339a and 33911 of the casing 3400f motor 334. The lefthand extensionv 338a of shaft 338 (which comprises a winding spindle) supports a spool341 upon which the thread 342'is to be wound to form a package 344. Spool 341- abuts a collar. 345 axially fixed to winding spindle 338a by a set'screw 346. A spring, 347,

mounted in a recess 348 in winding spindle 338a by a.

screw 34 9, presses against the'peripheral surface of an axial bore 350 extending longitudinally of spool 341 to hold the spool in'place on spindle 338d. The oppositely extending end 351 of the shaft338 forms the power input shaft for a gear gainer mechanism'352I connecting power shaft- 351-to a cam shaft 353. A

pinion 354is fixed to end 351 of shaft 338 by a pin or set screw (not shown). Pinion 354 is in constant mesh with a gear 358 forming one element of a gear cluster 359 journalled upon a stub shaft 360. Shaft Cam shaft 353 is jourrialled, by aligned bearings 374.

and 376-, upon side plates 322 and 324. A conventionally formed traverse rod reciprocating earn 378, having a cylindrical rim 380 in which is formed a continuous helical groove 382, is fixed to cam shaft 353 intermediatebearings 374 and 376.

As is best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, a tubular traverse rod 384 is axially, slidably mounted 'upon a coaxial rod 385. Rod 385 is fixed at one end to plate 324, extends through an aperture 386 in plate 322, and at its opposite end, is attached by a set screw 386:: to an upstanding arm 387 of an auxiliary bracket 388 fixed to plate 322 by bolts 388a (see FIGURE 2.). A cross head guide bar 389, mounted in parallel relation to the axis of the traverse rod 384, is fixed at itsv opposite ends to side plates 322 and 324. As is best shown in FIGURE 1, a cross head 3% is slidably mounted on rod 385 and cross head guide bar 389, cross head leg391a surrounding rod 385 and cross head legs 391b surrounding guide bar 389.

A cam roller 392 (see FIGURE'4) extending vertically through and attached to cross head390 and a cam roller 393 rotatably mountedon. the lower end of stud 392 and extending into cam groove 382 operatively connect the cross head to cam 378. Thus coaxial rod 385 and guide bar 389 permit cross head390 to reciprocate freely under the control of cam 378, but prevent it from pivoting about either of these members.

.Cam roller stud 392, which extends above cross head 390, pivotally mounts a horizontally disposed bell crank 394 which: ishorizontally-positioned in vertically spaced relationship to cross head 390 by a fiat annular spacer 39.6. A longitudinal slot 338 (see FIGURES 1 and 3) ma motion transmitting arm 400 of bell'crank 394 is engaged by the upper end of a vertical pin 402 secured in and extending upwardly from a reciprocating block 404 mounted on and axially fixed to one end of traverse rod 384 by split retaining rings 406 and 408. As is best shown in FIGURE 4, a pair of horizontally disposed, integral projections 409 on block 404 slidingly engage crosshead 390 and prevent block 404 from rotating about rod 385. Axially fixed at the opposite end of traverse rod 384 is 9 a thread guide assembly 410 (FIGURE 1) which will be described presently.

When the thread 342 is Wound on flanged spools, it is necessary, in order to control the buildup between the flanges, to contact and expand the traverse of thread guide assembly 410 and/ or to shift the traverse axially of the spool 341. The mechanism for accomplishing this function is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4.

As was explained above, bell crank arm 398 transmits the reciprocatory motion of cross head 390 through pin 402 to block 404 and thus to the traverse rod 384 to which it is connected. A vertically extending stud 412, carrying at its upper end a roller 414, is threaded in one of the tapped holes 415 in arm 416 of hell crank 394. Roller 414 engages the side Walls of, and reciprocates in, track 417 fastened at one end to a knurled feed screw 418 and at the other to a knurled feed screw 420. Feed screws 418 and 420 are mounted for travel in a direction substantially normal to the axis of traverse rod 384 in internally threaded lugs 422 secured to outstanding projections 423 on side plates 322 and 324, respectively.

By the appropriate manipulation of feed screws 418 and 420 the center line of track 417 may be made to lie, for example, along lines A--'-A, BB, or CC (FIG- URE 3). When track 417 is located with its center line in position BB, i.e., parallel to traverse rod 384, the traverse of thread guide assembly 410 will be equal to the traverse of traverse rod 384, the traverse of pin 402, and, therefore, the throw of cam 378. However, when track 417 is shifted to the position AA, the traverse stroke will be smaller than the cam throw. When track 417 is shifted to position CC, the traverse stroke will be larger than the cam throw for reasons which will be explained presently.

In FIGURE 3 the distance B is equal to the throw of cam 378. The distance A represents the limits of travel of pin 402 when track 417 is shifted to position A-A. This distance is equal to the traverse stroke of thread guide assembly 410 since pin 402 is axially fixed to,

and reciprocates with, block 404 (and, therefore, thread,

guide assembly 410). Similarly, the distances B and C are equal to the traverse when track 417 is shifted to positions BB and C-C, respectively. In each of these three exemplary positions, track 417 compels roller 414 to follow a predetermined path. By following such path, roller 414 causes crank 394 to be displaced in the manner shown in FIGURE 3. By moving but one of the lead screws 418 or 420, it is possible to shift but one end of track 417, thereby enlarging or contracting the traverse stroke and, at the same time, leaving one of the limits of the stroke undisturbed. It is also possible, by appropriate manipulation of lead screws 418 and 420, to shift the traverse limits to one side or the other while maintaining the distance between them constant.

For example, by appropriate manipulation of feed screws 418 and 420, track 417 can be positioned so that its longitudinal centerline is coincidental with line DD of FIGURE 3. With track 417 thus positioned, crank 394 reciprocates between the limit positions identified by numerals 1 and 2. With crank 394 reciprocating between these positions, traverse rod 384 and thread guide 434 have a traverse D.

' As shown by FIGURE 3, the distance D" is equal to the traverse B of thread guide 435 when track 417 lies with its centerline coincidental with line BB. How ever, as is also shown in FIGURE 3, by manipulating feed screws 418 and 420 so that the centerline of track 417 moves from line BB to line DD, the left-hand and right-hand end limit positions of the traverse are shifted to the right although the length of the traverse does not vary.

Thread guide assembly 410, referred to above,-comprises a hushed casting 424 having a channel-shaped portion 425 rigidly attached to a sleeve portion 426 which number of teeth.

is pivotally mounted on and axially fixed to traverse rod 384 by split retaining rings 427 and 428 for reciprocation therewith. At its free end thread guide assembly 410 mounts an extremely hard ceramic or equivalent thread guide insert 430 formed with a thread receiving V-notch 432 for the thread 342. Insert 430 is resiliently retained against the bottom of a bifurcated flat spring 433 fixed to the bottom of arm portion 425 by screws 433a. At its pivoted end, arm portion 425 supports an upstanding hook-shaped thread guide 434, as is best shown in FIGURE 2.

Intermediate its free pivoted ends, arm portion 425 rests upon an axially extending, arm positioning, support rod 440 which is fastened to one end of a mounting member 442. The opposite end of member 442 is pivotally attached to upstanding plate 322 by a cap screw 444. This arrangement permits thread receiving V-notch 432 to be spaced a preselected distance from package 344.

Motor 334 imposes a constant tension upon the thread 342 as it is fed to the spoil 341 by rotating more slowly as the diameter of the spool 341 increases with the buildup of yarn 342 thereon. The rate of reciprocation of thread guide 410 in relation to the rate of rotation of the mandrel forming extension (or winding spindle) 338a of shaft 338 of the motor 334 is positively controlled by the gear train comprising pinion 354 and gear cluster 359 and gear 372.

The speed ratio between the motor shaft 351 (and, hence, winding spindle 338a) and the cam shaft 353 (and, therefore, the point wind) can be adjusted to any desired magnitude by employing a pinion 354 having the proper The gain is readily adjusted, in small increments, through a wide range, by replacing gear cluster 359. Arm 362 is adjustable laterally and pivotally with respect to bolt 364 to properly position stub shaft 360 in relation to the shafts 351 and 353 to accommodate the pitch diameters of the various selected pinions 354 and the gears 35S and 370 in the gear clusters 359.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative andnot restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is:

1. In a thread winding machine:

(a) rotatable means for supporting a package adapted to have a thread wound thereon;

(b) means constraining said rotatable package supporting means against other than rotational movement;

(c) means reciprocable between first and second positions along an axis generally parallel to the axis of rotation of said package means for guiding a thread onto said package means; and

(d) means for expanding and contracting the traverse of the thread guiding means while maintaining one of said positions stationary and for shifting both of said positions without expanding or contracting the traverse of the thread guiding means, including:

(e) cam follower means mounted for reciprocable movement between fixed points;

(f) crank means pivotally mounted on said follower means for reciprocation therewith;

(g) means pivotally connecting a first arm of said crank means to said thread guiding means;

(h) a rotating cam directly drive-connected to said cam follower means;

(i) crank arm guiding means;

(j) track follower means operatively connecting said crank arm guiding means and the second arm of said crank means, said guiding means being configured to 5 constrain said follower means to movement along a rectilinear path as said crank means reciprocates with said follower means; and

(k) means for independently displacing the opposite ends of said crank arm guiding means toward and away from the path along which the cam follower means reciprocates in directions generally normal to said path.

2. The thread winding machine as defined in claim 1,

wherein:

(a) said crank arm guiding means includes elongated track means;

(b) said track follower means is mounted on said crank means for rotation about a fixed axis and is movable along said track means; and

(c) said shifting means includes an independently adjustable track positioning means attached to each end of said track means and operable to shift the associated end of said track means toward and away from the path along which the cam follower moves.

3. The thread winding machine as defined in claim 1, wherein said track means has a groove the length thereof and said track follower means extends into said groove.

4. A thread winding machine as set forth in claim 2, wherein said track positioning means each comprise lead screw means operatively connected to said track means and threadedly received in mounting means fixedly positioned with respect to the path along which the cam follower moves.

5. The thread winding machine as defined in claim 1, together with a pair of parallel, spaced apart guide bars fixedly mounted in side-by-side relationship, said cam follower means being slidably journalled on said guide bars and being provided with apertures through which said guide bars extend.

6. The thread winding machine of claim 1, wherein:

(a) said rotatable cam has a cam track around the periphery thereof;

(b) said cam follower means comprises a cross head mounted for rectilinear movement and a cam roller rotatably mounted on said cross head and extending into said cam track; and

(c) the length of the cam track is the sole means deterining the distance between the fixed points between which cam follower means reciprocates.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,203,798 11/ 16 Ryden 24243 X 1,233,042 7/ 17 Foster 24243 1,427,035 8/22 Taylor 24243 1,887,024 11/32 Joyner et a1 24218 X 2,292,725 8/42 Treckmann 24243. 1 2,395,522 2/ 46 Thomas. 2,451,243 10/ 48 Schlums 24243 2,629,560 2/ 5 3 Abbe 24243 2,699,905 1/55 Egee 242157 2,858,993 11/58 Siegenthaler 24243 .1

FOREIGN PATENTS 723,556 8/42 Germany.

604,475 7/48 Great Britain.

729,061 5/55 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. August 3,

August J. Hambach It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 1, line 12, for "Percision" read Precision line 51, for "travese" read traverse line 58, for "winding" read wind column 2, line 26, for "stud" read stub line 50, after "roller" insert stud column 3, line 5, for "contact" read contract line 65, for "435" read 434 column 4, line 20, for "spoil" read spool Signed and sealed this 22nd day of March 1966c (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. IN A THREAD WINDING MACHINE: (A) ROTATABLE MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A PACKAGE ADAPTED TO HAVE A THREAD WOUND THEREON; (B) MEANS CONSTRAINING SAID ROTATABLE PACKAGE SUPPORTING MEANS AGAINST OTHER THAN ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT; (C) MEANS RECIPROCABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS ALONG AN AXIS GENRALLY PARALLEL TO THE AXIS OF ROTATION OF SAID PACKAGE MEANS FOR GUIDING A THREAD ONTO SAID PACKAGE MEANS; AND (D) MEANS FOR EXPANDING AND CONTRACTING THE TRAVERSE OF THE THREAD GUIDING MEANS WHILE MAINTAINING ONE OF SAID POSITIONS STATIONARY AND FOR SHIFTING BOTH OF SAID POSITIONS WITHOUT EXPANDING FOR CONTRACTING THE TRAVERSE OF THE THREAD GUIDING MEANS, INCLUDING: (E) CAM FOLLOWER MEANS MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCABLE MOVEMENT BETWEN FIXED POINTS; (F) CRANK MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID FOLLOWER MEANS FOR RECIPROCATION THEREWITH; (G) MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING A FIRST ARM OF SAID CRANK MEANS TO SAID THREAD GUIDING MEANS; (H) A ROTATING CAM DIRECTLY DRIVE-CONNECTED TO SAID CAM FOLLOWER MEANS; 